I give up, I'm not a gardener.

Over the years I have planted plants that are suppose to be idiot proof, used Miracle Grow by the bags full and still have a lousy flower beds with no flowers. DH is having the front lawn re sodded so I gave in and told the guy to landscape my flower beds with shrubs. I'll buy flowers in pots from now on. My grandmother could grow beautiful flowers and had a big vegetable garden. All you gardeners out there, you have my admiration!

It might be your soil. If you have clay or too much sand you will have trouble with plants. I have good soil but there are still some plants that do better than others. Believe it or not I can't grow zucchini in my soil. Luckily for me my sister's soil produces an abundance that she shares with me. How about sun? If you are trying to plant in shade you need shade loving plants like hostas, ferns etc.
You can just buy potted annuals for a splash of colour. Dig a hole in the garden edge and drop in the whole pot, this lets you switch them out as the mood strikes (or if they kick the bucket)

i avoid annuals for the most part. for one thing, i have a brown thumb. for another, i don't want to invest a lot of money and effort on something i know is going to die.
i gamble on perennials. the odds of success are a little better.

try a tour of your area. take note of plants growing in vacant lots, around houses that have been sitting empty for a while, and in similar spots. those are likely to survive in any garden since they obviously require no personal attention to thrive. don't overlook weeds, either. some of them are quite pretty. (i don't call them weeds. i call them free plants. LOL)

I Quilt, I Nap, I Quilt Some More ... Aaaaah, The Good Life!
I also have an eddres you can use if you need to contact me with questions or suggestions that relate to our community: patricej@quiltingboard.com

don't overlook weeds, either. some of them are quite pretty. (i don't call them weeds. i call them free plants. LOL) That made me smile. I love some of the winter weeds - free plants - we get here in the panhandle of Florida. Some are so pretty I take pictures and keep them with photos of my "real" flowers in the album.

I wish you cold see my yard. I have non-stop flowers from March crocus to the early winter mums. My yard is my gym. I have 99% perennials which I share with the neighors as they spread so fast. Azeleas are in full bloom now. Tulips are just finishing, many shades of huge irises will open probably later today. I have rhodadendrums that bloom at different times. I even have bulbs & perennials in the pots on my front porch & patio. I spend less than $20.00/yr. for annuals to pot & stick in areas for accent. Watering is the key. If no rain in 2-3 days, they need water.

I have a neighbor that I tried to help, but she thinks just because a plant is outside, you don't have to water.